Latch mechanism for switch cabinet doors



Jan. 22, 1935. J. G. JACKSON LATCH IBCHANISM FOR SWITCH CABINET DOORS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY-S Jan. 22, 1935. J. G. JACKSON 1,988,639

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SWITCH CABINET DOORS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 22, 1935 ENT OFFICE LATCH MECHANISM FOR SWITCH CABINET OBS John G. Jackson, Detroit, Mlcla, assignor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to switching fuse cabinets, particularly .the switch structure thereof, and constitutes a division of my application, Serial No. 420,552 now Patent No.

Oneot the essential objects of the invention is to provide an electric switch of this type wherein switch blades carried by a movable part, such as a door of the cabinet, are adapted to be moved by latch mechanism for the. door into and out of engagement with switch jaws within the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a switch wherein the latch mechanism aforesaid has means for partially closing the door and causing the blades to be .initially engaged with the Jaws and has other means for fully closing the door and simultaneously forcing the blades into firm and positive engagement with the jaws so that' a proper electrical connection will be obtained.

Another object is to provide a switch wherein the switch blades are slidably mounted on the door and are held against sliding or shifting accidentally relative to the door by a portion of the latch mechanism referred to when the door is open or is being moved to or from closed position.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is'a perspective view of a cabinet embodying my invention having parts broken away and showing two doors thereof in open position; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the cabinet and showing the blades in engagement with the jaws;

Figure 3 is a fra cabinet;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the cabinet showing the knife blades in inoperative position relative to'the Jaws and showing one door locked and another unlocked;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the insulating base with fuses thereon;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of an insulator block with knife blades thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a switching fuse cabinet having a plurality of compartments A provided with hinged doors B. 2 is a base of insulating material secured within the cabinet at the back of the compartments A; 3 are bus bars in rear of the base; 4 and 5 respectiveiy are fuse clips upon the front of the base; 6 are fuses in said clips; 7 are switch jaws gmentary elevation of the January 13, 1930, Serial No. 420,552, now Patent No. 1,853,428. this application October 26, 193

Divided and 1, Serial No.

anchored in the base and electrically connected the fuse clips 4 and bus bars; 8v are insulating blocks slidably mounted upon the inner sides of the doors and 9 are cooperating switch blades rigid with the blocks 8 and adapted when the doors B are closed to engage the Jaws 7 and close the electric circuit to the fuses 6.

10 are brackets rigid with the outer faces of the doors; 11 are latch bolts arranged in pairs, one pair to each door having L-shaped shanks 12 pivoted upon the brackets 10 and engageable with transversely extending slots 8' in the blocks 8; 13 are operating handles extending between and terminally secured to the shanks 12 at the free ends thereof, and 14 are striker plates for the bolts secured to the lower faces of strips 15 and 16 respectively rigid with the casing.

In use, the blocks 8 may be adjusted so that the blades 9 carried thereby are either at substantially right angles or are parallel to the doors. When the blades 9 are disposed at substantially right angles to said doors and the bases 20 of .the L-shaped shanks are disposed substantially parallel to the doors B, the doors may be moved to and from closed position and the blades thereon will be moved into and out of engagement with the jaws 7. After thedoors have been pushed toward closed position and the blades 9 have initiallv contacted with the jaws 7 the doors may be cammed to fully closed position, and the switch blades 9 may be forced firmly into engagement with the jaws 7 by swinging the handles. 13 about the pivots 21 toward the doors so that the latch bolts 11 will have a camming engagement with the striker plates 14. In fact, the construction and arrangement of parts is such that upon the final closing of the doors in this manner the pressure between the switch blades and Jaws will be increased and a very positive contact may be obtained between the blades and jaws. Moreover, it will be noted that the doors cannot be closed and electrical contact between the blades 9 and doors B cannot be effected if the shank bases 20 are improperly positioned relative to the doors when the latter are pushed toward closed position. For example, if the shank bases 20 are disposed at substantially right angles to the doors while the latter are pushed toward closed position, the latch bolts 11 will abut the outer face of the strip 15 and this will prevent further movement of the parts in that direction. Likewise when the blocks 8 have been withdrawn from their guides 22 and re-inserted therein so that the blades 9 are substantially parallel to the doors no electrical contact can be established between such blades and the jaws '7. In this connection it will also be noted that the slots 8' in theblocks 8 receive the shanks 12 of the bolts when the base portions 20 thereof are disposed substantially parallel to the doors, consequently the blocks will be prevented by the shanksfrom sliding or shifting accidentally on the doors while the latter are in open position or are being moved to and from closed position, and the blades when disposed at substantially right angles to the doors will be indirectly held in proper position to engage the jaws.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade block carried by and movable relative to the door, and means for movingthe door including means engageable with the block to hold the same against movement relative to the door.

2. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade block carried by and movable relative to the door, a striker plate rigid with the cabinet, and a latch carried by and movable relative to the door and having means engageable with the block and striker plate to hold the block against movement relative to the door and to cam the door to closed position.

3. In an assembly of the class described, a

cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade insulator block slidably mounted upon said door, and latch mechanism for the door having a part holding the insulator block aforesaid against sliding movement relative to the door.

4. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade block carried by and movable relative to the door, a striker plate rigid with the cabinet, and means for holding the block against movement relative to the door including actuating means for the door having a part engageable with the striker plate.

5. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade block carried by and movable relative to the door, and latch mechanism for the door associated with both the door and cabinet and including means for holding the block against longitudinal movement relative to the door.

6. In an assembly of the class described, a cabinet having a movable door, a switch blade block carried by and movable relative to the door, and latch mechanism for the door associated with both the door and cabinet and having a part extending transversely of the block so that the latter is held against longitudinal movement on the door.

JOHN G. JACKSON. 

